“ Organic agriculture and olive oil production in the Southern Mediterranean Countries ”

1. “Organic agriculture and olive oil production in the Southern Mediterranean Countries” OLIBIO Research Project Fabio M. Santucci. DSEEA UniPG, Washington DC November 2007

2. A very heterogeneous group of countries Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Egypt, Lybia, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco Fabio M. Santucci. DSEEA UniPG, Washington DC November 2007

3. Four sources of information • A research on the situation and prospects for organic olive oil in Italy; • A study on the organic olive oil in the Med; • A study on the European market for selected Syrian products; • A study about competitiveness of Italian organic products. Fabio M. Santucci. DSEEA UniPG, Washington DC November 2007

4. A very fast growing population Fabio M. Santucci. DSEEA UniPG, Washington DC November 2007

5. ..Urbanization Fabio M. Santucci. DSEEA UniPG, Washington DC November 2007

6. Income and agriculture Fabio M. Santucci. DSEEA UniPG, Washington DC November 2007

7. Water and agriculture Fabio M. Santucci. DSEEA UniPG, Washington DC November 2007

8. Summarizing • Growing population, increasingly in town • Improving incomes, changing food patterns • Limited or scarce natural resources • Decreasing prices for many conventional commodities • Increasing food trade deficit • Emerging environmental problems • Agriculture still source of income and jobs in some countries • Need to create jobs and income in rural areas Fabio M. Santucci. DSEEA UniPG, Washington DC November 2007

9. Organic agriculture, December 2005 Fabio M. Santucci. DSEEA UniPG, Washington DC November 2007

10. Status of organic agriculture: institutions Fabio M. Santucci. DSEEA UniPG, Washington DC November 2007

11. International cooperation • IFOAM Mediterranean • Mediterranean Organic Ag. Network • FAO projects • EU funded MEDA projects • Bilateral public projects • Private initiatives Fabio M. Santucci. DSEEA UniPG, Washington DC November 2007

12. Status of organic trade Fabio M. Santucci. DSEEA UniPG, Washington DC November 2007

13. Prospects to 2010 4 = strongly increase; -4 = strongly decrease Fabio M. Santucci. DSEEA UniPG, Washington DC November 2007

14. Status of organic trade Fabio M. Santucci. DSEEA UniPG, Washington DC November 2007

15. Three groups of countries • Advanced: G1 Turkey, Tunisia, Israel and Egypt; • Medium: G2 Lebanon and Morocco • Laggards: G3 Algeria, Syria (and Libya). Fabio M. Santucci. DSEEA UniPG, Washington DC November 2007

16. Structure of exports • Bulk products: olive oil from Tunisia, tomatoes from Egypt, cotton from Turkey and Syria, pulses from Turkey. • Processed products:argan oil from Morocco, dates from Tunisia, wines from Israel, olive oil from Palestine and Syria, honey from Turkey, t-shirts and herbal teas from Egypt, Fabio M. Santucci. DSEEA UniPG, Washington DC November 2007

17. Organic olive oil Fabio M. Santucci. DSEEA UniPG, Washington DC November 2007

18. 6 Rules for organic olive oil • Respect the conversion period; • Know your soil and respect traditions; • Manage the natural fertility of the soil; • Defend with the help of nature; • Harvest with care and respect; • Process carefully. Comparative LCA gives mixed results Fabio M. Santucci. DSEEA UniPG, Washington DC November 2007

19. Organic olive oil chain • Respects the environment • In some cases, it improves the natural habitats • Uses local varieties • Ensures employment at farm level • Local processing and bottling provide jobs and income • Gives pride to producers Fabio M. Santucci. DSEEA UniPG, Washington DC November 2007

20. Biodiversity • Local and traditional olive tree varieties • Higher number of varieties • Introduction of shrubs and trees hosting parasitoids • Cultivation of leguminous crops as green manure • Sheep, goats, horses, (cattle ?) left grazing  manure as fertilizer • Higher number of small mammals, birds, snakes? Further biological research is needed Fabio M. Santucci. DSEEA UniPG, Washington DC November 2007

21. Water conservation • Olive trees are naturally drought resistant.. • Olive trees were normally planted on the most difficult slopes, on marginal hills, on rocky areas; BUT • Increased use of irrigation (trickle) since the ’70s has made them more productive, but the root system is less deep  more susceptible to reduced water availability • No specific organic guidelines Further research is needed (not only on olive trees) Fabio M. Santucci. DSEEA UniPG, Washington DC November 2007

22. Links with fair trade: an example from UK Organic extra – virgin olive oil from Palestine Fabio M. Santucci. DSEEA UniPG, Washington DC November 2007

23. Scenario to 2010 • Development of the organic agri-food chain: G1 > G2 > G3 • Impact FAO, IFOAM, MOAN: G3 • Annual average growth of output: 7,7% (crops and fruits) • Domestic market: G1 and G2; average value < 400.000 € • Export: EU; average value < 700.000 € Fabio M. Santucci. DSEEA UniPG, Washington DC November 2007

24. Limiting factors 4 = strongly agree; -4 = strongly disagree Fabio M. Santucci. DSEEA UniPG, Washington DC November 2007

25. Favoring factors 4 = strongly agree; -4 = strongly disagree Fabio M. Santucci. DSEEA UniPG, Washington DC November 2007

26. Organic agriculture meets the MDGs • Halving poverty and hunger - Higher resilience, more stable and better income, more jobs in rural areas (on farm and off farm diversification)  Rural Development 7.Ensuring environmental sustainability - Re-naturalization of countryside, lower water use, no chemicals, recuperation of native varieties, etc.  More research is needed. • Establishing a global partnership for development - Public support to OA through bilateral and multilateral cooperation; - Private and CSO’s partnerships based on respect and fair trade. Fabio M. Santucci. DSEEA UniPG, Washington DC November 2007

27. Thanks for your attention Fabio M. Santucci Fabio M. Santucci. DSEEA UniPG, Washington DC November 2007